Moncrieff’s Disappearing Guns David Moore
retain all the advantages of a barbette gun yet give the allow any amount of depression for plunging fire. By
range of the turret without the expense of the turret. changing the curves and proportions of the elevators
any amount of elevation, depression or length of
His ‘Protected Barbette System’ consisted of a recoil could be adjusted for. No extra fittings that
carriage mounted on a simple frame, consisting of could not normally be found in a battery were
two longitudinal beams which traversed in the usual necessary.
manner on a pivot and racers. The gun-carriage
proper had cheeks which were elongated into a trail, The aim of mounting a gun in this way was explained
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and during the recoil it was supported by an axle by Moncrieff to be primarily to keep the gun
resting on the after part of the frame, or it could detachment under cover and the gun also, except in
without elongation be supported by two guide rails, or the instant of firing. The guns could be mounted
by iron or wooden beams from the bottom of the either below a raised parapet or below the level of the
frame, hinged at both ends. Two curved elevators ground. Circular pits could be employed and
were joined together by two axles, one of which Moncrieff commented that as yet such pits were not
supported the carriage and the other the in use for artillery. He stated that the largest guns
counterweight. could be mounted in circular pits twenty feet in
diameter. He claimed that the principle could be
In the firing position the gun projected over the adapted to any size or ordnance from a field gun to
parapet. On firing the gun recoiled for a short distance the largest that was made at that time. The parts were
parallel to its own axis and then descended into the simple and portable and the carriage could be easily
loading position by virtue of the curved part of the taken to pieces to replace any part that was damaged
trail. The elevators and rail because of their curvature in action. The method of resisting recoil without
allowed the recoil to be gradually met by resistance friction meant that no shock was conveyed to the
which rapidly increased as the gun reached its lowest pivot through the carriage. Lighter materials could be
point. Here it was held in check whilst the gun was employed as there was no strain imposed on the
loaded. When the check was withdrawn the gun platform or carriage. On a front where guns were not
would rise under the influence of the counterweight exposed to enfilade and where lateral range was not
back to the firing position. The energy of the recoil required this method could enable more guns to be
would be successfully stored in the counterweight and mounted than was possible in embrasures. Moncrieff
converted into actual energy for raising the gun. also suggested that batteries of his guns could be
mounted in such a way that one gun could open fire
For guns of position he suggested that the wheels be over another whilst the front gun was being loaded.
used for elevators and the carriage formed with a No other method of mounting guns could achieve
block trail. In this arrangement the recoil was stopped this.
by the travelling rails on the frame being made with
an incline or curve, rising at the rear, and each wheel Moncrieff made many other claims for his method of
being fitted with bushes at opposite sides of their mounting guns. He explained that the nation’s
circumference to take the axles of the carriage and the harbours and arsenals required expensive defences
counterweight. This design also allowed the gun to be which up to then had meant that only the most
brought into position on its own wheels when the axle important ones had been defended. Gun-pits, he said,
was returned to the centre of the wheel as normal. could be built at short notice and any harbour or part
The Protected Barbette Carriage was fitted with a of the coast could be put in a sate of defence in a short
reflector under the breech and in front of this, nearly time. These gun-pits would be more formidable to
under the trunnions, was fitted a hinged back sight. shipping than batteries, which are easier seen and at
This allowed the gun to be accurately laid without the same time more vulnerable. Guns in such pits also
exposing a man to direct enemy fire. When the had the element of surprise. They could remain
reflecting sight was in use the gun could be elevated unseen until they were required to repel a sudden
using a handle in front of the carriage. The circular attempt to storm. He gave as an example that such a
racer was fitted with a scale which allowed the officer battery of guns would have saved Fort Fisher in the
to traverse the gun according to a chart of the ground late American War. The fire directed on that fort was
surrounding the battery and so the gun was laid for so heavy that those guns which were not disabled had
line whilst it was in the lowered position. The to be shunted out of fire, and were to all intents the
counterweight could take the form of a tray same as disabled. The place fell before they could
containing spare shot, pig iron or any heavy material. open fire on a storming party.
A spare or disabled gun could also be used with little
adaptation to the carriage. Another alteration could
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